Could Huberman have the fix for school violence?

September 3, 2009

Might be time to convince 17-year-old Demetrius to get back into Paul Robeson High.‚ Demetrius has been out of school ever since Robeson kicked him out last spring. (We profiled him as part of our Fifty-Fifty series.) But today Chicago Public Schools chief says the district is going to spend big bucks to hire mentors/advocates to pair with students like Demetrius.‚ Huberman says counselors will be assigned to at risk students--those with just two credits, a record of skipping school, and getting suspended.‚ Demetrius fits the bill.‚ The ratio will be 4 kids to one counselor.‚ That's something new.‚ Right now counselors at Robeson are supposed to help at least 300 students.‚ But what might really catch Demetrius' eye is the idea of a job.‚ He's been looking with no success.‚ Now Huberman says CPS‚ students at risk for becoming victims of violence will get a job, mostly likely doing something within CPS.‚ ‚ ‚ Huberman made the rounds to push his new plan, stopping first at the Tribune's editorial board, then talking to the City Club of Chicago, with alderman Fioretti and‚ and Chicago Teachers Union prez Marilyn Stewart in the audience, among others.‚ Then Huberman was whisked off to the Sun-Times editorial board.‚ ‚ Huberman says he and Police Chief Jodi Weiss are going to unveil more big plans in the near future.‚ He says the Mayor is on them both to stop CPS students from getting shot.